The concept of safety has an integral character in society and pursues the control of risks and hazards around us to preserve the health and welfare of people.

If we take this concept to the corporate world, we find the famous Occupational Risk Prevention Plans, a tool that allows us to identify the risks and hazards present in the work processes, as well as the critical elements present (people or also infrastructures or critical elements), to design a preventive activity and integrate it into the general management system of the organization.

Regardless of the sector in which they operate, companies must take the time to assess the operational risks in the workplace and take appropriate measures to keep their employees safe. This leads us to understand that the safety standards of companies and their facilities are the main way to work towards safety in the workplace and the main instrument for reducing accidents.

In the case of the oil industry, during the entire life cycle of a project, different operation and maintenance tasks are carried out that involve the use/interaction, and/or treatment of hazardous substances and situations that can generate serious human, environmental, or infrastructure damage, therefore, due to the nature of the industry and its processes, this Prevention Plan is, if possible, even more, relevant in the energy sector.

To design this plan, it is necessary to start with an “occupational risk assessment” that seeks to identify the risks present in the work environment, assess their potential severity or impact, and determine the protocol for action in each case.

At Nakasawa Resources, for example, the risk assessment includes the analysis of processes, work environments, specific critical tasks, the interaction of people with machinery and technology, and exceptional situations that, although they have a low probability of occurring, must be foreseen. Below, I share the steps we follow to design the Prevention Plan:

  1. Identify hazards: examine the workplace and identify the most common risks in the area. To do this, we must check both the hazards in the environment and the content of the instructions or technical data sheets of manufacturers or suppliers to know the risks to which an employee may be subjected.
  2. Detecting vulnerable people, i.e., those who may be affected, how intensely and how: this task is the responsibility of supervisors, who must identify which group of workers may be most vulnerable. In addition, it is highly recommended to meet with the teams afterward to see if you identify any hazards and risks in their day-to-day work that have not been identified.
  3. Assess risks and decide on control and mitigation measures: determine the main risks and establish the control elements to detect in time dysfunctionality that may pose a risk, mainly to employees.
  4. Record the findings and establish the action protocol: it is important to use the risk assessment guidelines to document the findings and make the final reports, conclusions, and action protocols for each case. In this step, supervisors and key parts of the company will be responsible for implementing the appropriate control, changes, and procedures.
  5. Review the assessment and update: supervisors should follow up on the assessments to check whether controls have been established or new hazards have emerged, as well as the degree of implementation of an adequate safety culture and compliance with safety standards.

In short, risk management in a company is a commitment of the company to its employees and its teams and must be an element in constant evaluation and monitoring. We must always have actions that enhance and remind us of the importance of adopting and complying with the policies and strategies intended for this purpose.

by info@nakasawaresources.com